550 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. 



vale of Kashmir, where it breeds so abundantly, and flocks proceed to 

 considerable elevations up the mountain valleys. 



Though mountain torrents pour down from numerous glaciers round 

 Sonemurg, it was surprising in wha,t appeared such a suitable environ- 

 ment, not to find. The Western Spotted Forktail (Henicurus maculatus), 

 possibly the bird had descended to lower elevations after breeding. The 

 only representative of this group seen was The Little Forktail [Microcichla 

 scouleri) and of it only a single pair were observed on one occasion. 



An example of Hodgson's Shortwing {Hodgsonius phcenecuroides) seen one 

 day was another species new to me. The way this bird cocks its long tail at 

 an acute angle to the body makes it look like some overgrown wren, but its 

 habits, otherwise, unmistakably proclaim it a member of the Crateropodido}. 



Jerdon's Accentor {Tharraloeus jerdoni), a handsome little bird, was not 

 uncommon. This and the preceding species are skulkers in thick under- 

 growth, though the former is the worst delinquent in this respect. 



Red-flanked Bush-Robins (lanthia rufilata) were numerous, especially 

 young birds, as also at Liddarwat. A ready means of identifying the 

 young, in places where this species is likely to occur, is by their habit of 

 flirting or rather flicking the tail from the line of the back downwards, 

 never elevating it above that line. This little bird has a ruticilline scolding 

 note and is a true robin in habits. 



It was homelike observing the Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorous) in such 

 numbers. This Thrush, as doubtless other observers have noted, becomes 

 quite gregarious after breeding time, and during the autumn months. 

 Flocks of 20 birds or more were not uncommon, both here and in the Liddar 

 Valley. I have noted the same thing in Scotland and Ireland at this 

 season. One flock in Sonemurg was in the habit of visiting a certain spot, 

 on a mountain stream running through forest, for bathing purposes, and for 

 several days in succession one could always count on finding the birds at 

 their ablutions if the place was visited about 6 p.m. 



One day while crossing a snow slope, below a glacier at about 11,000 

 feet, a pair of wagtails alighted on the snow beside me. I noted them dow*n 

 as "masked wagtails" (Motacilla fersonata), both being grey on the back, 

 though they may have been M. Jiodysoni in immature plumage, as this wag- 

 tail occurs on the " Murg " lower down. These two species in winter and 

 immature plumage are terribly difiicult to separate. In any case it was a 

 curious spot to meet with a wagtail of either species. 



Higher up I was surprised to find the Kashmir Martin [Chelidon 

 kashmiriensis) hawking over the snow. The birds evidently were, or had 

 been, breeding in the cliflFs around. A cold forbidding spot for the purpose 

 for such an usually confiding species. 



In my rambles above tree limit at 11,000 feet and over, I had hoped to 

 meet with, especially 'at the time of year, more than one species of 

 Mountain Finch, but the only species observed here and in the Liddar, 



